Travel Nurse Pay in Maine (2026)
Maine's travel market is small, seasonal and older than average — three forces that push wages up. Here are the verified BLS numbers, hedged package ranges and the tax details that matter.
By the NursePayLab editorial team · Updated $1
Key numbers at a glance
| Measure | Figure | What it means for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| RN employment (Maine) | 16,540 | Size of the staff market behind you (per BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
| Median RN wage | $86,990/yr ($41.82/hr) | Staff baseline that anchors hospital bill rates |
| Mean RN wage | $91,700/yr ($44.09/hr) | Includes the experienced-nurse band travelers replace |
| Entry RN (10th pct) | $74,160/yr | Floor of the market |
Travel nurse pay in Maine: the numbers
Maine employed 16,540 registered nurses as of May 2025, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey — the second-smallest RN workforce in this series. The median RN wage was $86,990 ($41.82/hr) per year with a mean of $91,700 ($44.09/hr), a 10th percentile of $74,160 and a 90th percentile of $106,950.
Two structural facts shape Maine's market. First, the workforce is small relative to a large, elderly, geographically spread patient population, which keeps baseline demand high for a state its size — the 75th percentile at $101,460 shows how far experienced-nurse pay runs above entry level. Second, the market is seasonal: summer population surges along the coast and winter census in the interior produce predictable demand waves, and traveler quotes track them.
Ranges below are hedged planning figures. Verify live offers with recruiters, and expect summer Portland quotes to sit at the top of the band.
| Measure | Figure | What it means for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| RN employment (Maine) | 16,540 | Size of the staff market behind you (per BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
| Median RN wage | $86,990/yr ($41.82/hr) | Staff baseline that anchors hospital bill rates |
| Mean RN wage | $91,700/yr ($44.09/hr) | Includes the experienced-nurse band travelers replace |
| Entry RN (10th pct) | $74,160/yr | Floor of the market |
| Experienced RN (75th–90th pct) | $101,460–$106,950/yr | Where bill rates cluster |
| Typical travel package (hedged) | roughly $2,200–$2,900/week gross | Taxable wage + stipends; varies by specialty and season — verify with recruiters |
| State income tax (2026) | Graduated: 5.80%/6.75%/7.15% (2026) | Applies to taxable wages only, not stipends |
| Nurse Licensure Compact | Yes — member since January 19, 2018 | Determines how fast you can start |
All BLS figures on this page: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release (bls.gov/oes). Wage figures are for staff registered nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries — travel packages are quoted separately and are inherently variable. See the full list on our travel nurse pay by state hub.
How stipends change the math in Maine
Stipend caps follow the federal GSA tables, and Maine's coastal seasonality shows up in them: Portland and the tourist towns carry summer-season lodging caps well above winter levels (current tables at gsa.gov/perdiem). If you take a July lease in Portland at peak rents, a full housing stipend can still feel tight — the seasonal cap and the seasonal rent chase each other.
Illustrative math: $25/hr × 36 guaranteed hours = $900/week taxable. Subtract roughly $103 federal, $69 FICA and $61 Maine tax at a hedged 6.75% marginal rate, leaving about $667. Add $1,500 housing plus $400 M&IE — $1,900 tax-free — for a take-home near $2,567/week, about $71/hour blended, roughly $33,400 over 13 weeks. Maine's tax takes a bigger bite than the flat-tax states in this series, so run your exact offer through the take-home calculator and compare with the blended rate method.
The stipends are tax-free only with a valid tax home and duplicated living expenses — the federal rule that underwrites the whole pay structure.
Maine income tax: graduated to 7.15%
Maine retains a graduated individual income tax with three brackets; for 2026 the rates run 5.80% up to roughly $27,000 of Maine taxable income (single), 6.75% to about $63,450, and 7.15% above that (per Maine Revenue Services and the Tax Foundation's 2026 tables). A traveler's taxable wages typically land across the second and third brackets, so a blended marginal around 6.75%–7.15% is the honest planning number. Nonresidents file a Maine return on Maine-sourced wages. Maine has no wage-tax reciprocity with New Hampshire (which levies no wage income tax anyway) — verify your specific filing with Maine Revenue Services or a CPA.
Tax figures here are 2026 planning rates from official state sources and the Tax Foundation's 2026 tables — confirm your own filing position with the relevant state revenue department or a CPA; this page is not tax advice.
Licensure in Maine: compact member
Maine is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, in force since January 19, 2018 (per NCSBN). A multistate license from your compact home state covers Maine assignments with no separate application — which matters more in Maine than most places, because recruitment lead times into rural northern hospitals are exactly where licensing friction hurts. Verify your multistate privileges on the NCSBN site before accepting a start date. Compact status per the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (ncsbn.org).
Where the demand is in Maine
Portland is the hub: Maine Medical Center, the flagship of the MaineHealth system, generates the state's deepest specialty demand. Lewiston's Central Maine Medical Center and Bangor's Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center carry central and northern demand, and the smaller Downeast and Aroostook county hospitals post rural-need lines with quotes that often beat Portland once coverage gets thin. Maine GSA lodging caps spike in coastal towns during summer — timing affects both your stipend ceiling and your rent.
Stipend ceilings everywhere follow the federal per-diem tables for your assignment location — gsa.gov/perdiem.
FAQ
How much do travel nurses make in Maine?
Per BLS OEWS (May 2025), the median staff RN in Maine earns $86,990/year. Travel packages typically quote $2,200–$2,900/week gross, highest in summer and in rural-need lines — verify offers with recruiters.
Is Maine a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes — the compact has been in force in Maine since January 2018, so a multistate license covers Maine assignments.
Are stipends taxed in Maine?
Stipends are tax-free with a valid tax home; Maine's graduated tax (top 7.15%) applies only to taxable wages.
Why is Maine RN pay higher than in most rural states?
A small workforce (16,540 RNs per BLS) serving the oldest, most rural population in the country keeps demand tight; the 10th percentile alone starts at $74,160.
Does seasonality affect Maine travel contracts?
Yes. Summer census along the coast and winter demand inland move both quotes and GSA stipend caps; a July Portland contract and a February Bangor one are different deals.
What is a good blended rate in Maine?
An illustrative $2,567/week take-home over 36 hours is about $71/hour blended. Maine's higher tax means gross needs to be a bit higher to match flat-tax states — compare after-tax.